PUT AN END TO ANXIETY

Massy Arias gets candid about her postpartum depression

The excitement of having a baby is incomparable, but the enormous hormonal and chemical changes that a woman undergoes after delivery leaves her physically and emotionally drained. The pressure of taking care of the baby further increases the burden. These conditions may slowly fade away within a short span of time. However, some new mothers could slip into a state of depression known as postpartum depression after about two to eight weeks of the baby’s birth.

Anybody could be struck with this feeling of depression, irrespective of his or her social strata and age. In a recent candid interview with the magazine Parents, Massy Arias, a certified personal trainer and fitness guru, opened up and spoke about the hardships she endured while dealing with postpartum depression. Arias, who had initially hit the gym to get that “mental release” needed after walking out of an abusive relationship, had worked hard to earn a reputation as ‘fitness boss.’ Not shying away from hard work, she went through the true test of her strength when she became a new mother.

“The postpartum period was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through, made worse because I was determined to breastfeed but my nipples were a bleeding mess,” she said during her interview with Parents. Going into details, she said that she would generally forget to eat for the first few weeks and even forget to bathe. Everything revolved around her daughter, Indi. If she napped, Arias would not nap with her because she would keep checking to make sure Indi was breathing. She further said, “I had so much anxiety. ‘Am I doing this right? Why is she crying so much? I was crying every single day. I was losing it.”

Finding support to overcome depression and anxiety

Despite being a tough phase, there comes a time when the realization of suffering dawns and one is ready to act on it. Similarly, the realization that she needs help to climb out of the pit of depression descended on Arias. Fortunately, she received all the support she needed, which helped her in overcoming anxiety and other depressive symptoms. She is now determined to reach out to others and spread awareness about the ways to treat postpartum depression to empower new moms.

What worked for this fitness guru was the support from a mother’s support group, which helped her cope with her depression and anxiety. Because of her previous experience with depression, caused by an abusive relationship and the diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in her brother, she knew that she would feel better once she started working out again.

Even though she was criticized for trying to “get her figure back” and neglecting her daughter, she started going to the gym just four weeks after the childbirth. The demeaning comments just messed with her head. But not one to give up, the inspiring trainer started bringing her daughter to the gym with her, as soon as she got the clearance from her doctor. “Slowly I started feeling that I knew what was right for us,” she said.

Treating depression in women

Just like the intensity of depressive symptoms, the treatment of depression may also vary from one person to another. A lot is dependent on one’s temperament, biology and life experience. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to address the root cause of the problem. The efficacy of a combination of medication (antidepressants) and psychotherapy along with support from loved ones is one of the ideal approaches. In addition, group, family or couple therapy may also be clubbed with other treatment options to subdue depression.

For women battling depression, early diagnosis and subsequent treatment are key to quick recovery. If you or someone you know is looking for help in dealing with anxiety or depression, the Anxiety Disorder Treatment Arizona can assist you in finding the best anxiety disorders treatment center in your vicinity. Call at our 24/7 helpline number 866-425-9317 or chat online with one of our anxiety helpline representatives to connect with some of the best depression treatment in Arizona.